Chester draws in the crowds for Albion

Two hundred and fifty men and women from HMS Albion enjoyed belated birthday celebrations as the assault ship headed home for her tenth anniversary.

Led by the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland, roughly two-thirds of the ship’s company from Britain’s flagship marched through the historic heart of Chester – Albion’s affiliated city – as hundreds of Cestrians cheered and applauded them.

The Freedom of the City Parade – the highest civic honour the good folk of the city can bestow – concluded with a Royal Salute in Town Hall Square, where the Princess Royal was the guest of honour.

She launched Albion down the slipway in Barrow in 2001 and has followed the ship’s progress avidly ever since.

The high tempo of operations meant that the 18,000-ton assault ship could not mark her birthday on the actual day (March 9) or even in the spring.

Albion led the RN’s keynote deployment of the year (Cougar 11), the first run-out for the nation’s new Response Force Task Group, formed under last year’s defence review.

As well as long-planned exercises in the Mediterranean and Middle East, for a short time she found herself taking part in operations off Libya, assisting with the first Apache helicopter strikes launched from HMS Ocean.

With Cougar completed and the ship’s company, including the permanent Royal Marines Commando unit attached to Albion, 6 Assault Squadron, suitably rested courtesy of post-deployment leave, they took the ship to Liverpool (Albion can navigate the Mersey, but not the Dee…) for six days berthed at the great port’s impressive cruise liner terminal.

Although the visit to nearby Chester (which include a civic reception to satiate appetites after all that marching) was the highlight of the stay on Merseyside, Albion did open her gangway to hundreds of visitors for two days.

The ship is now back at sea carrying out several weeks of exercises and training around northern Europe before returning to Devonport.

She’s due to hand over duties as the nation’s flagship to her sister Bulwark, which is fully worked-up following extensive trials and training, next month.